FEB. 23] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
continue to be, accepted willingly by the people of the Dominion in the knowledge
that their sacrifices in this respect will contribute materially to the food
resources of their kinsfolk in the United Kingdom whose heroic spirit throughout
the war period, despite the hardships of severe food-rationing, has been an
inspiration to all.
As one of the United Nations, New Zealand has assumed heavy and
important responsibilities which must be borne to the full extent of the
country's resources until final victory is won. In the ultimate settlement
of peace the effective voice that New Zealand desires, and is entitled, to raise
will undoubtedly depend in large measure not only on the contributions and
the sacrifices already made in the common cause, but also upon the heavy
burdens which it is found possible to maintain during the remaining course of
the war. While sustaining its military effort to the maximum extent it is
essential that New Zealand should at the same time collaborate with the other
United Nations and, in particular, with the members of the British Commonwealth in all plans for the attainment of final victory and for the preparations
for peace.
There has been the closest consultation on all these matters with the
United Kingdom and with the other Dominion Governments, and my Prime
Minister will shortly attend a Conference in London for the purpose of
exchanging views with the other Prime Ministers of the British Commonwealth
on matters of common interest.
Of greatest significance for the more speedy defeat of the enemy and for
the possibility of a lasting peace have been the recent momentous conferences
between the leaders of the great United Nations at Cairo and Teheran. These
meetings were preceded in Moscow by that of the Foreign Secretaries of the
United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the United
States of America, which foreshadowed the establishment of an international
organization of all peace-loving nations to maintain peace and security in the
post-war period, and paved the way for the still more authoritative meetings
between the heads of the three Governments. For the first time the great
leaders met face to face and made common cause. At the Cairo Conference
far-reaching decisions were made covering the prosecution of the war against
Japan, and a declaration was issued denoting the intention of the allied powers
to deprive Japan of the territories she had acquired by aggression. Plans
for the joint conduct of the war against Germany during the coming year were
concerted at Teheran and decisions made which will bring it to a speedier conclusion.
In these and other international discussions my Government have been
kept advised and have, whenever necessary, stated their views. It has, in
fact, been their constant aim to ensure that New Zealand shall participate to
the full as a Sovereign power in discussions and plans for the reordering of
world affairs.
My Government have participated in a number of international conferences
directed towards world reconstruction, and on the 9th November, 1943, signed
the Agreement providing for the establishment of the United Nations Relief
and Rehabilitation Administration.
Arrangements are being made for the representation of this Dominion at
the conference of the International Labour Office to be held in the United States
of America in April next.
The question of New Zealand's participation in discussions relating to
post-war international economic collaboration has been constantly under
review. In their study of proposals relating to international monetary
and exchange control, and questions of post-war commercial policy, my
Ministers regard it as essential that a high level of employment in all countries
should be a fundamental condition of better standards of living throughout
the world. They trust that it will be possible to obtain an international
agreement to pursue in all countries domestic policies aimed at full employment, and to this end it is proposed to advocate and support, in the transition
period from war to peace, such forms of international economic collaboration
as should make it unnecessary for countries to adopt policies of aggressive
economic nationalism.